The line of the border means that some buildings (for instance, a branch of the retail store Zeeman) straddle both countries.

The last part certainly originates from the -loo suffix, which means forest on sandy ground, next to a settlement.

The name of the Tommel hamlet has its origins in the Latin word tumulus, meaning a burial mound, and there are a number of prehistoric tumuli in the vicinity.

Urns have also been found around Tommel, evidence that this area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age.

In 1198, Henry I, Duke of Brabant (Dutch: Hendrick I) made over some of the land to Godfried of Schoten, the Lord of Breda.

They have set up a joint council to look after things like electricity, water and gas supplies, highway maintenance and refuse collection.

Differences in the laws have long encouraged smuggling, but European integration, especially since 1993, has made it much less relevant.

[7]: 9  In modern times many people still buy fireworks in Belgium and smuggle them into the Netherlands.

[8] The areas of Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog are essentially agrarian in character, although there is some industrial activity.

Merkshe in the south is a beautiful stream valley and the Hollandse Bossen ('Dutch Forests') in the west form an estate.

Bels Lijntje, a former railway line, is now a bicycle path for tourists that runs from Riel to Turnhout.

These are only available through cable (and thus through Telenet); other Belgian providers of radio, TV and internet are accessed via ADSL.

The telephone network is redundantly served by KPN and Belgacom, but with a special condition: calls between Baarle-Hertog and Baarle-Nassau are available at local rates.

The fire services of Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog merged into a single body on 1 January 2010.

The joint fire service is formed by Dutch and Belgian volunteers and the station is located at C.A.

The railway was established in 1867 and closed on 7 October 1934, running from spoorlijn Tilburg - Turnhout.

Some have both Belgian and Dutch counterparts: for example, the football clubs of Gloria US (Netherlands) and KVV Dosko (Belgium).

The regional newspapers in Baarle are BN DeStem, Brabants Dagblad and Gazet van Antwerpen.